Processor and firmware download method for same

Abstract

A processor comprises a central processing unit that downloads firmware from outside after starting a second program that depends on a device, stores the downloaded firmware in a volatile memory, and executes predetermined processing based on the firmware stored in the volatile memory; and a non-volatile memory that stores a device-independent first program for downloading the second program in a first program storage area thereof, wherein the central processing unit starts the first program stored in the first program storage area of the non-volatile memory to download the second program from the outside, writes the downloaded second program in a second program storage area of the non-volatile memory, and starts the second program written in the second program storage area to download the firmware from the outside.

1. A processor comprising:
 a central processing unit that downloads firmware from outside after starting a second program that depends on a device, stores the downloaded firmware in a volatile memory, and executes predetermined processing based on the firmware stored in the volatile memory; and 
 a non-volatile memory that stores a device-independent first program for downloading the second program in a first program storage area thereof, 
 wherein the central processing unit starts the first program stored in the first program storage area of the non-volatile memory to download the second program from the outside, writes the downloaded second program in a second program storage area of the non-volatile memory, and starts the second program written in the second program storage area to download the firmware from the outside. 
 
   
   
     2. The processor according to  claim 1 , wherein the first program executes diagnosis processing for components of the device according to a diagnosis request command transmitted from the outside. 
   
   
     3. The processor according to  claim 1 , wherein the second program has device-specific information that is specific to the device, determines whether the firmware is compatible with the device based on the device-specific information before receiving the firmware from the outside, and downloads the firmware from the outside when the firmware is compatible with the device. 
   
   
     4. The processor according to  claim 1 , wherein the central processing unit has the volatile memory and non-volatile memory arranged therein. 
   
   
     5. A firmware download method for a processor having a central processing unit that downloads firmware from the outside after starting a device-dependent second program, stores the downloaded firmware in a volatile memory and executes predetermined processing based on the firmware stored in the volatile memory, wherein:
 a device-independent first program for downloading the second program is stored in a first program storage area of a non-volatile memory; and 
 the central processing unit starts the first program stored in the first program storage area of the non-volatile memory to download the second program from the outside and write the same in a second program storage area of the non-volatile memory, and starts the second program written in the second program storage area to download the firmware from the outside.